Byron Bratt, Mezzotint Artist Information:
Byron Bratt (1952-2020) born in Everett Washington. Byron attended and graduate from Western Washington University with a degree in Fine Art.
Art became his lifelong vocation specializing in the “mezzotint” technique which was originally developed in the Renaissance for the creation of high-quality images in books. Highly detailed, often hand colored and always with a background story or myth as support. Byron’s mezzotint creations have found their way to both national and regional galleries, museums, municipal buildings and countless private collections. His work is recognized and held by the Library of Congress in Washington DC. A devoted father, Byron was also close friend to many and a teacher of his craft to others.
A mezzotint is created using a metal plate that’s been roughened and polished to achieve different tones. Mezzotint is an intaglio technique, which means it involves creating an image by making incisions or indentations in a metal plate achieve different tones. Mezzotint can produce high quality prints with a lot of richness.The burrs on the plate make it more fragile than other printmaking techniques, so it requires great care during printing. Mezzotint editions were smaller than engravings or etchings because of the plate’s fragility.
Mezzotint was invented in the mid-17th century. It was widely used in England in the 18th century.
Note:The main difference (and I’m generalizing) between an etching and a mezzotint is that an etching is made with acid and a mezzotint isn’t. A mezzotint is a type of engraving and is made with a tool called a rocker. This has different sets of teeth that create thousands of tiny holes that hold ink.